The Wonders of Water Everywhere: World Water Week

Pat Mora

Water Rolls Water Rises“Water fascinates me, pehaps because I’ve spent most of my life in the Southwest desert region of the United States. The sound of rain is welcome music on a dry and thirsty landscape. Creeks and rivers refresh desert dwellers, and lakes—so much water—seem a surprise. Lighting and downpours startle. Snow softens mountains, hills, cactuses, rocks.
—Pat, from the Author’s Note in Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube.

The last week in August is World Water Week, the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues. It is organized by SIWI, the Stockholm International Water Institute. The theme for 2019 is “Water for society–Including all.” Each of us can conserve water day by day.

Meilo So illustration from Water Rolls, Water Rises by Pat Mora

Illustration by Meilo So from Water Rolls, Water Rises.

Teachers: Make Lasting Connections with Your Students

Pat Mora

At this time of year, both students and teachers find themselves in classrooms with new faces. How do teachers cultivate their own and students’ creativity and foster new lasting connections? Here’s an excerpt from Zing! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students, Pat’s book supporting inventive teaching.

ZING! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators & Students“Educators are incredibly important people; you change lives. How do we make the necessary time, space, and support to guide a student to value her creativity? How do we see his inventive capacities and assist him to develop them? A key strategy is through establishing a personal connection.

Committed librarians and teachers who work with young people are optimists: You invest a good part of your life, your talents, and your enthusiasm in the next generation. What energy is required! Why is such important work often undervalued?

Because we know students need to develop their inventive selves, we can connect with them, listen to and honor their stories, create time and a welcoming place as we encourage them to value and release their imaginations, as we affirm their specific talents and offer our helpful support.”

Do you know Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz?

Pat Mora

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a 17th century nun who devoted her life to writing and learning and words. Though she died in 1695, Sor Juana Inés is still considered one of the most brilliant writers in Mexico’s history: her poetry is recited by schoolchildren throughout Mexico and is studied at schools and universities around the world.

A Library for Juana

Original cover

Pat’s story about the life of Sor Juana, A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés, was first published in 2002, with illustrations by Beatriz Vidal, and won the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award from Southwest Texas State University.

Here’s what the review journals had to say about the book:

“Mora’s beautifully crafted text does credit to its subject, following her from birth to death…an exceptional introduction to an exceptional woman, and would enhance any collection.”—School Library Journal

A Library for Juana

2019 cover

“Mora concisely traces the rise of spirited Juana Inés from inquisitive youngster to 17th century Mexican scholar … this story of persistence and pioneering will inspire youngsters…the heroine’s journey, coupled with Vidal’s depiction of expressive faces and lovely renderings of flowers that spill from the borders of the pictures make for a memorable volume.””—Publishers Weekly

Briefly out of print, it has been reissued in both English and Spanish editions by Lee & Low Books with a new cover!

Sor Juana also makes an appearance in one of Pat’s books of poetry for adults, Adobe Odes. “Ode to Sor Juana” begins:

You rose
      on your words,

      chased rhymes around
your nursery,
      a child entranced
by their flitting, flirting colors,
      teasing shapes.

Adobe Odes by Pat Mora

Enjoy nature this summer

Pat Mora

The natural world has been a source of inspiration whether I’m writing for adults, teens or children. Although I did spend some years in the Cincinnati/Northern KY area and have been fortunate to travel to other countries and landscapes including Bali, India and Pakistan, I have lived much of my life in the Chihuahua Desert of the SW. I love the lizards!

Not all readers or audiences understand how I can find the desert beautiful, but I certainly do. Enjoy the landscape where you are, and other landscapes you may see this summer. Spending time in nature including a walk in the park can remind us that we are creatures on a beautiful planet that needs our protection.

Pat

Illustration by Daniel Lechon from The Desert is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre

Illustration by Daniel Lechon from The Desert is My Mother/
El desierto es mi madre


Illustration by Francisco X. Mora from Listen to the Desert/Oye al desierto

Illustration by Francisco X. Mora from Listen to the Desert/Oye al desierto